LET’S PARTY

Shag, Rattle & Roll

Move to the rhythm of Charleston’s hometown dance.

BY BETH LARGASSE

CHARLESTON’S COAST HAS inspired award-winning cuisine, bestselling novels and countless summer romances, but its most beloved creation may be the city’s signature dance: a six-count jig known as the shag. In the late 1940s, Charlestonian teenagers flocked to the beach to twirl the nights away with a dance that’s part-jitterbug, part-Lindy hop and all Low Country.

“Back then, everyone was dancing the shag to bands like The Temptations, The Four Tops and The Drifters,” says Harriett Grady-Thomas, president of the Beach Music and Shag Preservation Society of South Carolina. “It was a huge part of soul music moving to the beach.”

Though it started in the sand, the shag has found a home in the city, with Charlestonians of all ages gathering at local venues and events to perfect the dance’s sultry moves. Two Charleston shag organizations boast hundreds of names on their membership rosters, and lessons at JB Pivots Beach Club (www.pivotsbeachclub.com), the un-disputed top venue for the dance, are often filled to capacity.

“More and more people are coming out and wanting to shag,” Grady-Thomas says. “People who try this dance fall in love with it and tell other people about it. It just keeps growing and growing.”

On your next visit to Charleston, hit the dance floor and shag the night away.

DID YOU KNOW?
Shoe in
If you’re going to shag, you need the right shoes. Leather-bottomed shoes are a must, and women should keep the heels to a minimum.

Get on Your Feet

Check out these five local shag events

Moonlight Mixers
Aug. 8 & 29; Sept. 12
Shag under the stars on Folly Beach, where the dance first came to life. www.ccprc.com

Charleston Beach Music and Shag Festival
Aug. 21-24
Enjoy eight bands, free lessons and nonstop dancing at this hugely popular gathering. www.pivotsbeach.club.com

Shrimpin’ & Shaggin’
Sept. 14
Sample local shrimp recipes and dance all day to the legendary beach-music band, The Tams. www.shrimpin.info

Geechee Blast
Oct. 17-19
Experience a shagfilled weekend at the Charleston Shag Club’s largest annual event. www.charleston.shagclub.com

Shaggin’ on Kiawah Weekend
March 13-15, 2009
In its second year, this weekend offers great food, fabulous accommodations and spectacular shagging. www.kiawahresort.com